A Moment in Time

Cinnamon Ornaments

If you love the warm inviting smell of cinnamon during the holidays this is a must do for your ornament collection.

What you will need:

1 C ground cinnamon

1/2 C applesauce

2tbs white glue

rolling pin

drying/cooling rack

cookie cutters, a straw

ribbon and embellishments ( I used liquid applique and red stickles)

tin for packaging (I used RBD's 8oz square clear top tin)

add the three main ingredients together, cinnamon, applesauce and white glue. Mix together until a dough is formed (don't breathe in or you'll be sneezing for days!!!), if it is too dry add applesauce, too wet, add cinnamon. Knead dough until it is soft and has a consistency of gingerbread dough.

roll out to 1/4-1/2 inch thick. I like them to be just a bit over 1/4" thick. Cut shapes out using cookie cutters and veiners if you have them. Use the straw to cut out a hole to use for hanging later.

Lay out your shapes (I used snowflakes but gingerbread men look absolutely adorable!!) on drying rack and let dry for 48 hours. If you are in a hurry you can heat your oven to 200F degrees and speed up the process. If the edges are rough after they are dry, use a file or sandpaper to smooth them.

Decorate your shapes as you like, I used liquid applique and red stickles. Add your ribbon for hanging.

I wanted something to keep these in from year to year or something to give them as a gift in. I painted one of our square clear top tins and distressed it a bit with sandpaper. I stamped the star image from RBD's stamp set Season's Best on the sides. I stamped the sentiment on top in staz-on ink. I lined the inside on the bottom in a nice striped pattern from the Piggy Tales line.  

I find that 6 decorated snowflakes fit in perfectly. These smell delicious and look fabulous on your tree. Stay tune for more homemade ornament and decorating ideas!

Happy decorating folks!!

~D

Brittle Bones

Hello hello,

I often celebrate many traditions in our house. One of my kids' favorites is this one in particular. Every year at Halloween, like most families, we carve pumpkins, roast the seeds and light our jack-o-lanterns. One other thing we do is make bones!  Yup, they're meringue and they're so cute!

This is the recipe I use, however if my oven is not able to be surrendered overnight, I just bake them for an additional hour.

Ingredients:

1-1/2 cups sugar

Pinch of salt

5 egg whites at room temperature

Pinch of cream of tartar

1 teaspoon almond, vanilla, orange or lemon extract

 

Preparation:

1.

Preheat oven to 220°F. Line 2 cookie sheets with parchment paper. Prepare pastry bag with round #10 tip (about 3/8-inch diameter).

2.

Combine sugar and salt in small bowl. Beat egg whites and cream of tartar in small bowl with electric mixer at low speed until soft peaks form. Gradually add sugar mixture, beating constantly. Beat until stiff peaks form and meringue is shiny and smooth. Add extract; beat just until blended.

3.

Fill pastry bag with meringue. Pipe log 3 to 4 inches long. Pipe 2 balls on both ends of each log. Smooth any peaks with wet finger. Repeat with remaining meringue.

4.

Bake 30 minutes; turn off heat. Leave cookies in oven overnight; do not open oven door.

 

Tip To give the "bones" an ivory or "aged" look, add 1 to 2 drops yellow food coloring with the extract.

 

I've taken these bones and put them into our Large clear take out container and fancied it up a bit. I've also used our stamp set from RBD Happy Halloween.

 

Happy Spooking folks!  My youngest is going to be a ferocious lion, and my oldest is going as a ninja. I'll try to snap a few pics to share! :)

Treats from the heart

I thought I'd share a recipe with you today which is so easy to adapt to any time of year or occasion simply with a drop or two of food coloring and a different cookie cutter.

This is one of my favorite recipes for homemade marshmallows. If you've never enjoyed fresh homemade marshmallows you don't know what you've been missing. These marshmallows are useful in any standard recipe calling for marshmallows but because they are so soft and delicious they stand alone very well by themselves! Dip them in chocolate for an even more enjoyable experience! Print off this recipe and include it with your marshmallow gift! Here I've placed them into a clear cellophane bag and topped with our taffeta edge satin ribbon

Download Homemade Marshmallows

Here I've just placed them in a small jar purchased inexpensively at IKEA and added some ribbon, you could also add rub ons or other decoration as well, I wanted to show off the heart shapes here.

Here is an example of using the marshmallows in your own recipes. After you've cut out all of your shapes with the cutters you'll have a scrap pile of excess marshmallow which isn't very pretty to look at. I've made these scraps into crispy rice treats on a stick. I used the large heart image from our Cupid's Arrow stamp set to stamp on the cellophane in Staz on ink.

Such a quick and easy recipe which is sure to impress...especially after they have been tasted! You'll never go back to store-bought again!

check back on Monday because I'll be posting a tutorial on a cute favorbox which you could easily package theses treats in!

Easy Peanut Brittle

I'm popping on here today to share with you one of my favorite quick recipes I use every year for quick gifting! You may not even need a pen to write it down it's so cinchy!

Microwave Peanut Brittle:

1C Sugar
1/2C light corn syrup
1C plain peanuts
pinch of salt
1TBS butter
1tsp Vanilla
1tsp of baking soda

Place the first 4 ingredients into a microwavable 2quart dish and stir. Microwave on high for 4mins. Stir, add butter. Microwave for 4 mins more. Add Vanilla and baking soda. Your candy will begin to get foamy. Stir like crazy and then pour out onto a parchment (or greased) lined baking sheet.  Spread as thinly as possible. Let cool and then break into pieces.

I just popped mine into a flat bottomed clear cello bag and added a front and tag from the Christmas   Cards and Tags set.  A quick gift in less than 15 mins!!  OH but be warned!!!!  Put your mixing bowl straight into hot soapy water immediately to make your scrubbing job easier later!

Relax and Unwind

  Making candles was something that I was always unsure of trying. I thought it would be messy and difficult and that you had to know a lot of things about it.  Well, I'm here to tell you that it is none of those things! 

On a whim I purchased a bag of soy wax flakes to give it a whirl. Soy wax flakes are great because they are for containers (no molds required) and you can microwave them until they melt to the proper consistency.  I purchased mine at Michaels but you can buy it anywhere... many online stores as well.  I also purchased candle scent concentrates and colors (I later ended up sticking with just the scents because I liked the vanilla color).

The following information was found at soy scentsational

Soy wax can be melted in the microwave or in a double boiler. If using the microwave, melt the wax for 30 seconds at a time and stir. If using a double boiler, stir the wax as it melts. Heat the wax to about 160 degrees. I used my meat thermometer since the cleanup is so simple!

Wicking

The recommended wicks are 100% cotton cored wicks for soy wax. These wicks create a nice and even burn pool. You will need to wick your container. If using a single wick, center it in the container. If you are using a large container, use multiple wicks and place them in the container equidistant from each other. Burn pool size greatly affects scent throw. An ideal burn pool is ¼ to ½ inches deep, and the full diameter of the container. Over wicking will produce a deeper, quicker burn pool, but may cause sooting, or emit the fragrance too fast. Wicks should be kept trimmed to 1/8 inch.

To center your wicks after pouring, put it between 2 pencils as they rest on top of your container.

Color

Add the color after the wax is completely melted. Add the dye slowly, a small sliver at a time, or your candle may be darker than you want. To test the color, drip a small amount of the colored wax onto a white dish.

Fragrance

Soy wax can be used with most any fragrance or essential oil. Add your fragrance just before you pour, otherwise it may evaporate as it sits in the melted wax. One ounce of fragrance is recommended for one pound of wax. You can double scent your candles and use 2 ounces of fragrance per pound of wax, if you like an extremely fragrant candle.

You can also use the fragrance in soap, and make matched gift sets!! (Cinnamon and cinnamon blends are not recommended for skin products)

Pouring

We suggest pouring at 120 to 115 degrees Fahrenheit for most applications. You can also pour at 100 degrees Fahrenheit as long as the wax is kept in constant motion. Lower pour temperatures may eliminate possible frosting while producing a smooth top and good adhesion.

Candle Cooling

Allow the candles to cool undisturbed and uncovered at room temperature. When cooling multiple candles, allow at least ½ inch space between containers for even cooling. Allow the candles to cure for at least 24 hours before burning. Place the candle burning instructions/warning labels on the bottom of your container after cooling.

The above instructions are only suggestions, and your results may vary. Testing and experimenting are the only way to achieve the effects and results you desire. Be sure to follow all safety precautions and directions recommended by the manufacturer of the tools, materials, and equipment you use.

Clean up

Clean up is a snap! Just wash your equipment in soap and warm water. You can also wash out your spent candle container and reuse it again!!!  Think of all these options!!

 

Here are mine once they cooled!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And here are mine after a bit of decoration!

If you're wondering what is in the bag it's Bentonite clay. It's for mud baths or facials. All you need to add is equal parts of clay and water, apply to face, light a few candles, draw a nice bubble bath and let the mask dry.

I am planning to add a bottle of wine with this  set and present it to a fellow care-giver I know (it's care-giver month!!)

 

 

Recipe:  4 oz and 8 oz clear top tins

Stamps: Pampered package

Ribbon: Hint of Lime taffeta edge satin

Winter Lip Balm and rub

   I was looking at our small round tins wondering what I could do with them and I started googling recipes for lip balm. Well I found one, and then modified it a bit.  

If you've ever noticed how lovely coconut oil smells you'll see why I picked this one! Also, it is a solid at room temperature but melts at body temperature making this a prime candidate for lip balms and rubs. You can find unrefined virgin coconut oil at some ethnic cooking suppliers but you can also find it online. Here is the store I bought mine from. I wanted to be sure I got cosmetic grade and that it was pure. I melted mine in a double boiler, but I'm sure you could use the microwave on half power... I then added a few drops of mint extract to the melted coconut oil. I added in some beeswax to make it a little more resistant to melting on a warm day.

*tip  keep a spoon in the freezer to dip into the melted oil to test the consistency and see what the balm will be like once it has cooled.

I also added a 1/4 tsp of cocoa powder to my second one which was just divine!!! This colored it in the tin but it leaves no trace of color on your lips.

However, if you do want to add some sparkle or color to your balm then just take your favorite shade of lipstick and add some shavings from it to the blend! It's that simple!

 Once cooled place the lids on tightly.

I then got on a roll and decided to make a body butter/rub as well.  I melted down more coconut oil and then added an equal part of cocoa butter which I purchased from the same online store to make it a bit more creamy and also add that yummy smell. I infused it with vanilla bean and it was just scrumptious! I poured it into one of our round flat 8oz tins.

Here are some other lip balm/ rub flavors to consider:

- lavender mint (essential oils)
- lemongrass
- chocolate lavender
- cocoa butter rose (Valentine’s Day!)

be sure to try only a drop or two of essential oil the first time! You don't want to accidently cause a burn.

I then decided to decorate the packaging so that I could give them as Christmas gifts, (afterall, I made a whole batch!!) so here are some of the pictures.

I then decided to make a matching card to complete the ensemble! I wont go into detail today on how to make the card as you're probably getting frightened by the length of this post! I'll list the supplies at the end though :)

 And here is the whole ensemble!  I think it's a wonderful treat for anyone to recieve! It's especially nice in the dry winter months. The coconut oil is SO soothing, the natural vitamin E in the mixture is great both for dry skin but also for pregnant women and preventing or treating stretch marks (hint hint, are you thinking baby shower gifts!?) I love to use it as a bedside treat before going to bed.           ENJOY!!! 

Recipe:  Stamps: Snowflake Season, Polka Parts

Ribbon: Mineral Ice Satin dot ribbon

Ink: Soft sky, Palette Burnt Umber, new canvas

Cardstock: Kraft, Very Vanilla, Soft sky

Tins: 1 oz deep round, flat round 8oz tins from RBD

Muffin coffee bag gift

      Who doesn't love a good homemade bananna muffin!? You'd be crazy not to love them!!  I made a few extra in a batch the other day (I always keep overripe bananas in my freezer for when inspiration hits) and I decided to give them to a good friend of mine as I knew she'd be stopping by. I find the best time to give something like this is when the receiver least expects it! 

Here's my recipe (well, it's not really mine, it's from The Best of Bridge cookbook "Best of the Best" which is the MOST wonderful cookbook ever and one I turn to time and time again, you should see the greasy, splotchy pages!)

 

I love to modify the ingredients and I used whole barley flour for these and they were great. Next time I'll add some nuts and chocolate chips I think. This recipe also doubles very well.

 

Banana Muffins

1/2 Cup Butter or Margerine    125mL

1 Cup Sugar    250mL

2 Eggs

1 Cup Mashed ripe bananas    250mL

1 1/2 Cups Flour (I used whole Barley for these and it was delicious)    375mL

1 tsp Nutmeg    5mL

1 tsp Baking Soda    5mL

2 tsp Hot Water    5mL

1 tsp Vanilla    5mL

 

Cream butter and sugar.  Add eggs and Bananas. Mix Well. Stir in flour and nutmeg. Dissolve soda in hot water, add to banana mixture. Stir in vanilla. Fill greased muffin tins 1/2 full.  Bake at 350F (180C) for about 20 minutes, or until golden brown. Makes 24 medium muffins.

Now for the bag recipe!

I used one of our Kraft window coffee bags and stamped it with white ink in the largest of the Polka Parts patterns (say that 10 times fast!). I then used SU's Baja Breeze ink and stamped the open mate for the Polka Parts pattern on top of the solid prints.
I then took the ovals from Elegant Edges and used the same colors, white for the solid oval, and Baja Breeze for the inner detailed oval (I LOVE THIS OVAL, you'll see it a lot!). I then took the "Enjoy" sentiment from the Pampered Package set and finished off the focal point by stamping in the centre. Finally, I tied a bow with our BEAUTIFUL Rhombus patterned ribbon in Mineral Ice to complete the look. She was more than thrilled with this little gift, and it only took a few mins to put together (literally less than a tv commercial!).

   Click on the photos on the left to enlarge (just as any pictures on the blog)

 SUPPLIES:

RBD Kraft Window Coffee Bag

Stamps: Renaissance By Design's Elegant Edges, Pampered Package, Polka Parts

Ribbon: RBD's Rhombus pattern in Mineral Ice 

INK: White Craft ink SU, Baja Breeze Dye ink from SU